42 (school)

42 (school)
42 · Public domain · source
Name	42
Native name	42 Network
Established	2013
Founder	Xavier Niel
Country	France
Type	Private nonprofit coding school
Campus	Paris, campuses worldwide

42 (school) is an international network of nonprofit software engineering schools founded in 2013 in Paris by Xavier Niel with partners including Nicolas Sadirac and Kwame Yamgnane. The model emphasizes project-based learning, peer-to-peer evaluation, and zero-tuition access to remove traditional barriers associated with institutions such as École Polytechnique, University of Paris, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The pedagogy has inspired campuses and imitations linked to organizations like Station F, La French Tech, and multinational companies including Capgemini, Microsoft, and Google.

History

The founding in 2013 followed investments by Xavier Niel and announcements involving stakeholders such as Fabrice Grinda and Marc Simoncini, and drew attention from media outlets in France and international press covering startups like BlaBlaCar and Deezer. Early leadership included alumni from institutions such as École 42 (Paris), and advisory input from figures connected to Télécom ParisTech and École Normale Supérieure. Expansion initiatives in the late 2010s led to global franchises and partnerships in cities tied to tech hubs like Silicon Valley, São Paulo, Tokyo, Seoul, and Cape Town, often coordinated via local organizations such as Station F or governmental tech programs like La French Tech Grand Paris. The movement paralleled trends exemplified by networks including Le Wagon, General Assembly, and open-source communities around GitHub.

Philosophy and Curriculum

42's pedagogy centers on project-based, peer-reviewed learning inspired by models from École 42 (Paris), rejecting conventional lectures used by institutions like Sorbonne University and ETH Zurich. The curriculum emphasizes practical projects, pair programming, code reviews, and continuous integration practices associated with tools by GitLab, Docker, and Kubernetes. Students progress via a "piscine" selection process influenced by immersive selection exercises modeled after initiatives linked to Hack Reactor and Holberton School. Technical topics include algorithms comparable to problems in ACM-ICPC, system design reminiscent of Amazon architecture patterns, network concepts aligned with standards from IEEE, and security practices referenced in contexts like OWASP. Instructional philosophy draws on peer assessment methods used by organizations such as PeerTube and collaborative workflows seen in communities around Stack Overflow, Linux Foundation, and Apache Software Foundation.

Campuses and Global Network

The original Paris campus near Montparnasse spawned a franchise network across continents, including campuses in cities like San Francisco, New York City, São Paulo, Tokyo, Seoul, Moscow, Istanbul, Barcelona, Berlin, Amsterdam, Lisbon, Cape Town, and Abu Dhabi. Many sites formed links with local accelerators and incubators such as Y Combinator, Techstars, and regional initiatives like La French Tech chapters. Campus facilities sometimes co-locate with startup ecosystems like Station F or coworking operators like WeWork and collaborate with universities including University of California, Berkeley, Peking University, and University of Cambridge for events and workshops.

Admissions and Tuition

Admissions employ an intensive selection called the "piscine", an immersive coding bootcamp influenced by selection methods used by Google internship programs and recruitment approaches from Facebook and Amazon. Applicant outreach engages communities tied to organizations such as Girls Who Code, Code.org, and Mozilla Foundation to broaden diversity. Tuition is generally free, enabled by philanthropy and corporate sponsorship from entities like Iliad (company), Microsoft, BNP Paribas, and local ministries similar to partnerships seen with Ministry of Higher Education and Research (France). Some franchise campuses adopt hybrid models with scholarships, stipends, or employer-funded seats modeled after collaborations like those between LinkedIn and educational nonprofits.

Notable Alumni and Outcomes

Graduates have moved into roles at global technology firms such as Google, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft, IBM, and startups that raised funding from investors including Andreessen Horowitz and Sequoia Capital. Alumni founders have launched startups appearing in lists alongside companies like Doctolib, Stripe, and BlaBlaCar, and have participated in accelerator programs like Y Combinator and 500 Startups. Career outcomes reported compare to outcomes tracked by institutions like General Assembly and employment surveys used by Stack Overflow and industry recruiters at Randstad and Adecco.

Partnerships and Industry Connections

42 networks maintain partnerships with corporate sponsors including Iliad (company), Capgemini, Microsoft, Google, and IBM, and collaborate on internship pipelines with firms like Dassault Systèmes, Thales, Orange (corporation), and Atos. Research and event collaborations have involved organizations such as Station F, La French Tech, NUMA, and conferences like Web Summit and LeWeb. The model has been showcased in policy discussions with ministries and bodies comparable to Unesco and linked to workforce development initiatives seen in partnerships between OECD and national governments.

Criticisms and Controversies

Critiques have referenced debates similar to controversies around Coding bootcamp outcomes, transparency disputes seen with providers like Holberton School, and labor concerns reminiscent of coverage of Gig economy platforms. Observers tied to academic institutions such as Université Paris-Saclay and journalists from outlets like Le Monde and The New York Times have questioned claims about placement rates, the scalability of peer-driven pedagogy, and the implications for credentialing compared with degrees from École Polytechnique and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Other controversies involved local regulatory scrutiny in jurisdictions comparable to disputes faced by Udacity and legal considerations observed in cases involving vocational training entities.

Category:Computer science education